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Kamakura

The city of Kamakura, about 30 miles (50km) southwest of Tokyo,
at the base of the Miura Peninsula, was the political powerhouse of
Japan in the middle ages and the seat of government for most of the
13th century. Because of its historic importance Kamakura boasts
numerous monuments, temples and shrines which are of interest to
sightseeing tourists. As an added bonus the city sports some sandy
beaches and good hiking trails in the nearby wooded hills so that a
day or two can be spent very happily in the city enjoying both the
natural and historical attractions. Kamakura's many sights are too
numerous to detail individually, but most important of them all is
the Great Buddha. This bronze statue of the seated Amida Buddha is
located in the grounds of the Kotokuin Temple and, standing at
almost 44ft (13,35m) high, it is the second largest Buddha statue
in Japan after that found in the Todaiji Temple in Nara. The
Kamakura Great Buddha was cast in 1252 and was originally contained
in the temple hall. A tidal wave (tsunami) washed away the temple
in the late 15th century, but the Buddha prevailed and has since
stood triumphantly in the open. Kamakura is a very popular daytrip
from Tokyo, but many visitors will find that they want to spend at
least one night in the city to fully appreciate all it has to
offer.